LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS
No. 18 — Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Proof Version
1
The President took the Chair and read the Prayer.
2
ENVIRONMENT,
NATURAL
RESOURCES
AND
REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE — The President read a letter from Mr Battin resigning from the Environment,
Natural Resources and Regional Development Committee, effective from 27 May 2015.
3
PETITION — POLICE NUMBERS — Mr O’Donohue presented a Petition bearing 21
signatures from certain citizens of Victoria requesting that the Legislative Council call on the
Andrews Labor Government to commit to providing additional frontline police numbers as a
matter of priority.
Ordered to lie on the Table.
4
PAPERS —
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND ESTIMATES COMMITTEE — 2015-16 BUDGET ESTIMATES
HEARINGS (ALERT REPORT) — Ms Shing presented a report from the Public Accounts
and Estimates Committee on the 2015-16 Budget Estimates Hearings (Alert Report)
(including Appendices).
Ordered to lie on the Table and to be published.
Ms Shing moved, That the Council take note of the Report.
Debate ensued.
Question — put and agreed to.
* * * * *
PURSUANT TO STATUTE — The following Papers, pursuant to the directions of several Acts
of Parliament, were laid on the Table by the Acting Clerk:
Auditor-General’s Reports on —
Early Intervention Services for Vulnerable Children and Families, May 2015 (Ordered
to be published).
Universities: 2014 Audit Snapshot, May 2015 (Ordered to be published).
Planning and Environment Act 1987 — Notices of Approval of the following amendments
to planning schemes —
Boroondara Planning Scheme — Amendment C215.
Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton and Wyndham Planning Schemes —
Amendment GC26.
Casey Planning Scheme — Amendment C193 (Part 2).
Corangamite Planning Scheme — Amendment C40.
Greater Geelong Planning Scheme — Amendments C266 (Part 2) and C309.
2
Legislative Council of Victoria
Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme — Amendment C171.
Hindmarsh Planning Scheme — Amendment C15.
Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme — Amendment C93.
Maribyrnong Planning Scheme — Amendment C136.
Moonee Valley Planning Scheme — Amendment C139.
Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme — Amendment C184 (Part 1).
Mount Alexander Planning Scheme — Amendment C72.
Nillumbik Planning Scheme — Amendment C105.
Stonnington Planning Scheme — Amendment C204.
Warrnambool Planning Scheme — Amendment C199.
Whitehorse Planning Scheme — Amendments C159 and C173.
Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme — Amendment C133.
5
MINISTERS’ STATEMENTS — Statements were made by Ministers pursuant to Sessional
Order 2.
6
MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS — Statements were made by Members pursuant to Standing
Order 5.13.
7
ALCOA (PORTLAND ALUMINIUM SMELTER) (AMENDMENT) ACT AMENDMENT BILL
2015 — Mr Barber laid on the Table the statement of compatibility as required by the
Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.
Mr Barber moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.
On the motion of Mr Melhem, the debate was adjourned for two weeks.
8
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COMMITTEE REFERENCES — Ms Wooldridge moved, That
pursuant to Sessional Order 6 this House requires the following matters to be referred to the
Council Standing Committee specified —
(1) to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee to inquire into, consider and report, at
least once every six months, on public sector infrastructure and public works projects,
including current and past infrastructure projects and proposals and, in particular —
(a) projects relating to the removal of railway level crossings;
(b) the Western Distributor;
(c) the Melbourne Metro Rail Project;
(d) the sale/lease of Port of Melbourne; and
(e) Melbourne Airport Rail Link;
and any other public sector infrastructure or public works projects the Committee determines
appropriate;
(2) to the Environment and Planning Committee as part of its oversight of Local
Government Victoria, to inquire into and report every six months on the outcome of the
State Government policy of local government rate capping on councils’ viability, service
impacts on local communities and impacts on the provision of local infrastructure; and
(3) to the Legal and Social Issues Committee, to inquire into, consider and provide an
interim report no later than 30 November 2015 and a final report no later than 1 May
2016, on the process, cost and effectiveness of the Victorian Government Departmental
restructure (Machinery of Government changes) following the November 2014 election.
Debate ensued.
Business having been interrupted at 12 noon pursuant to Sessional Orders —
9
QUESTIONS — Questions without notice were taken pursuant to Sessional Order 3.
WESTERN DISTRIBUTOR PROJECT — Mr Jennings having given answers to a question
without notice and a supplementary question from Ms Hartland relating to the Western
Distributor project —
On the motion of Ms Hartland, the Minister’s answers were ordered to be taken into
consideration on the next day of meeting.
QUESTIONS — Questions without notice continued.
Minutes of the Proceedings
3
WONTHAGGI SECONDARY SCHOOL — Mr Jennings having given answers to a question
without notice and a supplementary question from Mr O’Donohue relating to Wonthaggi
Secondary School —
On the motion of Mr O’Donohue, the Minister’s answers were ordered to be taken into
consideration on the next day of meeting.
QUESTIONS — Questions without notice continued and answers to questions on notice were
circulated pursuant to Standing Order 8.10.
ABBOTSFORD CONVENT CONGESTION LEVY — Mr Jennings having provided a written
answer to a question without notice, the President directed the Minister to provide a further
written response under Sessional Order 5.
10 CONSTITUENCY QUESTIONS — Constituency questions were taken pursuant to Sessional
Order 4.
11 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COMMITTEE REFERENCES — Debate continued on the question,
That pursuant to Sessional Order 6 this House requires the following matters to be referred
to the Council Standing Committee specified —
(1) to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee to inquire into, consider and report, at
least once every six months, on public sector infrastructure and public works projects,
including current and past infrastructure projects and proposals and, in particular —
(a) projects relating to the removal of railway level crossings;
(b) the Western Distributor;
(c) the Melbourne Metro Rail Project;
(d) the sale/lease of Port of Melbourne; and
(e) Melbourne Airport Rail Link;
and any other public sector infrastructure or public works projects the Committee determines
appropriate;
(2) to the Environment and Planning Committee as part of its oversight of Local
Government Victoria, to inquire into and report every six months on the outcome of the
State Government policy of local government rate capping on councils’ viability, service
impacts on local communities and impacts on the provision of local infrastructure; and
(3) to the Legal and Social Issues Committee, to inquire into, consider and provide an
interim report no later than 30 November 2015 and a final report no later than 1 May
2016, on the process, cost and effectiveness of the Victorian Government Departmental
restructure (Machinery of Government changes) following the November 2014 election.
Question — put.
The Council divided — The President in the Chair.
AYES, 21
NOES, 16
Mr Atkinson
Mr Bourman (Teller)
Mr Barber
Dr Carling-Jenkins
Ms Bath
Mr Dalidakis
Ms Crozier
Mr Eideh
Mr Dalla-Riva
Mr Elasmar
Mr Drum
Mr Herbert
Ms Dunn
Mr Jennings
Mr Finn
Mr Leane (Teller)
Ms Fitzherbert
Ms Mikakos
Ms Hartland
Mr Mulino
Ms Lovell
Ms Patten
Mr Morris (Teller)
Ms Pulford
Mr O’Donohue (Teller)
Ms Shing
Mr Ondarchie
Ms Symes
Ms Pennicuik
Ms Tierney
Mrs Peulich
Mr Young
Mr Purcell
Mr Ramsay
4
Legislative Council of Victoria
Mr Rich-Phillips
Ms Springle
Ms Wooldridge
Question agreed to.
12 ECONOMY AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE REFERENCE — Mr Barber moved, That
pursuant to Sessional Order 6 this House requires the Economy and Infrastructure
Committee to inquire into, consider and report, no later than 24 November 2015, on options
for a Victorian Renewable Energy Target that is not invalidated or limited by section 7C of
the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (Cth) and that creates renewable energy
additional to the federal Renewable Energy Target.
Debate ensued.
Business having been interrupted at 5.00 p.m. pursuant to Standing Orders, debate stood
adjourned in the name of Mr Ramsay —
13 STATEMENTS ON REPORTS AND PAPERS — Statements on reports and papers were
made by Members pursuant to Standing Order 9.10.
14 ADJOURNMENT — Ms Pulford moved, That the House do now adjourn.
And then the Council, at 6.15 p.m., adjourned until tomorrow.
ANDREW YOUNG
Acting Clerk of the Legislative Council